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PHOTOS: Split Airport targets June terminal opening

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The construction of Split Airport's new multi million euro terminal is progressing and scheduled to be completed in the coming months, so as to open its doors to the public in June. Upon completion, work will begin on the overhaul of the existing 11.000 square metre terminal building which will be joined with the new structure to form a single functioning unit. Split Airport, which recorded a gross profit of 20.2 million euros last year, will then begin airside expansion work. "We have been acquiring properties around the airport for some time as we have been preparing for long-term investments. Following work on the terminals, we will overhaul the runway, expand the apron and build a parallel taxiway to the runway", Split Airport's Deputy General Manager, Pero Bilas, said.

The new 35.000 square metre terminal structure has been made of reinforced concrete, laminated wood, structural steel and canvas. The arrival and departure areas have been separated to enable more operational flexibility and security control. The eastern part of the terminal is a compact glazed cube featuring a flat and partly glazed roof, while the western part has a basement and will be located next to the existing apron. A new automated baggage sorting area has also been created, along with a luggage inspection area compliant with the standard three explosives detection systems, as specified by new European Union regulation. "All of the new equipment has been installed, tested and is ready for use. We only have to clean it. Capacity is expected to reach 3.000 passengers per hour. Therefore, we will be able to handle at least five million travellers per year without a problem and this will satisfy our needs for the next ten to fifteen years", Mr Bilas said.

The new terminal will increase the airport’s total area to 105 hectares and significantly improve the quality of passenger services. It will also enable the application of EU standards for international border crossings in line with the Schengen agreement. The new building is a one-storey structure with a basement, ground floor, first floor and a gallery with roof height extending to 14.74 metres above the ground floor. It features six gates, a seating area for 1.200 people and an additional 500 seats in various food and beverage facilities. All duty free shops will be run by the airport itself. A new commercial parking area with 900 parking spaces for cars and buses has also been constructed as part of the expansion project. A bus terminal has been built linking with the passenger terminal through a closed pedestrian overpass.

Split Airport has started the new year off on a strong note by handling 36.360 passengers in January, representing an increase of 7.9% on last year. "The 15% to 20% annual growth we have witnessed are unlikely to continue in the coming years and we expect the usual 5% to 10% increase in passenger numbers. First and foremost we are looking out for the sustainability of the business", the Deputy General Manager noted. Split Airport will be served by some fifty airlines this summer season. A number of new carriers will introduce flights to Croatia's second largest city this year, including Air France, British Airways, Luxair, Ryanair and Laudamotion.

Well it was supposed to be built years ago but was always delayed. Same happened with Zagreb terminal before the French finally came. The only airport that has always been on schedule and planning ahead is Dubrovnik.

You don't cry over spilt milk. Like everything else in Croatia, this is a matter of politics and not need. Unfortunately, Croatian politicians decide on personal and not state interests which terminal will be built, which will be ignored or given in concession despite having its own assets for enlargement, etc.

My guess is they probably can't open it before and they decided that it is better at least to ease part of the season by opening the new terminal during the season. Split Airport is absolute chaos in the summer.

Because it is more expensive to operate two terminals and the French came to make money. They reduced staff numbers so they can't handle some types of planes during the night just to make an extra penny.

Split Airport's new terminal is in fact just an extension built right next to the current terminal, which will be refurbished next year. Upon refurbishment the new and current terminal will make a single terminal building. That overpass on the photos is not between the two terminals, it just connects the airport terminal to a bus terminal and a car park built further away, due to restricted space. This new bus terminal will feature car rental agencies as well.

On the contrary, the new terminal in Zagreb was built several kilometres away from the old building. Keeping it for passenger traffic simply would not be efficient. The plan was to overhaul it into cargo terminal and office space.

The local community is already fed up with the airport and the poisonous fumes it spreads on the local inhabitants. There should be a limit to the number of flights at SPU. Any excess flights should be redirected to ZAD.

Lack of apron space is the reason. If they added air bridges they would be able to handle as much aircraft per hour. If the apron is expanded than the new terminal can be fitted with 4 jetways if I remember correctly.

This is an aerial photo of how the two terminals (and bus terminal across the street) will look likehttps://2.bp.blogspot.com/-lKLzhLWhGsg/WkP3Jmnd3UI/AAAAAAAAhlM/L74Y3GQx4pE2oMKebN5oc_GdrdiV29oSwCLcBGAs/s1600/bbimagehandler.jpg

They should demolish the old Terminal and build a new one in the middle run connected to the one buing built and extend it to the control tower and beyond to the fire station. This way the capacity will grow to 10 Million Pax a year.

I just flew from SPU yesterday morning. The traffic off-season is impressively low compared to summer months, I arrived at the airport just 45 mins before an international flight and still had time for a morning coffee and browsing around the empty shops, the whole thing was so quick! It's crazy compared to some summer days (especially Saturdays) when pax even queue outside just to reach the check-in counters. I still don't get how they manage it with such a small building. Here's the picture of the new building from the apron yesterday (before boarding). I'll be back in early June so I hope to use the new terminal then! :) https://imgur.com/a/De0p5bE

I read here the SPU and ZAG comparisons.There have been times when BOJ surpassed SOF during the peak season.Similar to SPU it is a very seasonal airport (not as much as VAR) as well and has quite similar traffic figures to SPU.Anyway, great looking terminal. Wishing Croatia all the best.

This is probably the last expansion of the terminal SPU will ever see. Simply there is not much more demand and there will never be. ZAD will grow, BWK will grow, some road connections between islands will be established and that is bet that can happen to Split and surrounding cities.

With such a vast pax flow summer vs. winter it must be a nightmare as far as staffing is concerned. Does anyone know how do they manage people side of their business? Do they hire temp staff? If yes, where do they come from?

Split Airport should look to buy the land immediately west of the terminal area, and use it for more taxi ways, remote gates, future expansion. Now those lands appear to be used for green house, random agriculture, and some residences. Who would want to live so close to an airport, the noise must be nasty at times.

I thought I heard there was a rail link planed to the city, is this true?

The rail link already exists starting Split Center /bus and train station /passenger port passing through Split predgradje, Solin, and 2 or 3 Kastela stops. The stop closest to the airport is Kastel Stari, which is some 3-4 km from the airport, little up hill, and the space from there till the airport is not too much built and there is possibility to trace the tracks there which could even continue to Trogir. So techically, it's possible, not even too expensive. Would it be realized or not, I don't know but know that several bigger cities in Croatia have serious plans to build and improve local city/region railway lines and traffic, Rijeka and Split being two of those

You're not familiar of the local politics. There are much more important infrastructure investments which are being neglected for decades. Thus this rail link will come to agenda when the rest of the planet begins to visit Mars.

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